We have reviewed the above-referenced variance
request and approve your request, based on the following factor:

The Project Description in the EIS/SEIR
stated that "major roadways, interstate highways,
and freeways" would be bored. Open cut trenching at
this location has been requested due to the narrowing of
the railroad right-of-way (30 foot width) on the west
side of Birch Avenue which would cause the bore pit to be
located too close to the railroad tracks; the railroad
requires that any activities be conducted a minimum
10-foot distance from their tracks. In addition, the bore
on the east side of Birch Avenue would need to be angled
to allow for the bend in the railroad right-of-way, again
requiring the bore pit to be placed within 10 feet of the
railroad tracks.

Birch Avenue is a two-lane street with
little traffic. To mitigate potential traffic impacts on
Birch Avenue during trenching, PPSI proposes to use
standard open trenching methods, with half the roadway
closed during construction. This portion, when completed,
would be plated and the second portion of the roadway
would be trenched and plated. Traffic would continue to
pass in both directions with little delay using flagged
controls. Trenching activities are anticipated to require
five to nine working days. Given the temporary nature of
the traffic impacts and that vehicle passage would be
maintained, no significant impact would occur.

Given the presence of perpendicular and
parallel utilities to the pipeline alignment within Birch
Avenue, potholing (and related traffic disruptions) of
Birch Avenue would be required regardless if boring or
trenching of the roadway were to be conducted.

The City of Hawthorne has approved the
trenching of Birch Avenue with stipulations (see below).

The following measures shall be
implemented:

- All applicable mitigation measures for
the project shall be implemented at the subject location.

- The stipulations identified in the City
of Hawthornes February 5, 1998 approval letter shall be
implemented:

- Since the work at this crossing is not
covered under the pipeline franchise agreement with the City
of Hawthorne (the railroad has prior rights to Birch Avenue),
additional provisions must be made to ensure that the
indemnification and insurance requirements of the franchise
agreement are extended to include this work.

- The trench repair must be in accordance
with the City of Hawthornes standard (drawing no.
A-718) and approved by the Citys Public Works
Inspector.

- All necessary traffic control will be
established by PPSI in accordance with the latest edition of
the State of Californias Department of Transportation
Manual of Traffic Controls for Construction and Maintenance
Work Zones.

- At least one lane of traffic will remain
open in each direction at all times. No excavations will be
left open or unplated overnight.

- Erosion controls shall be implemented as
soon as possible to prevent soil and debris from migrating
from construction sites to streets. This should be put in
place at all areas of construction including Birch Avenue.

- Replace any cracked, broken, or displaced
sidewalks with the railroad right-of-way per the direction of
the City of Hawthornes Public Works Inspector.

- Pipeline installation within Birch Avenue
shall be completed within 10 working days.

- Implementation of this variance in
accordance with the provisions noted above shall be verified
on a random basis by a CPUC/ANF Environmental Monitor.